GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Chadron State kept a high-powered Colorado Mesa offense largely at bay, but struggled against the Mavericks' pitching, losing 5-2 and 6-1 in the first half of a four-game series in Grand Junction. 

The Eagles' three runs came on a pair of home runs, a two-run shot by Brogan Allen in game one and a solo shot by Kenzi Garner, who batted for herself in game two. Including those two blasts, however, the Eagles combined for just nine hits across Friday's doubleheader. 

The two defeats drop Chadron State's record to 17-27 overall and 13-25 in the RMAC. Colorado Mesa, which sits in first place in the RMAC standings after Friday, is now 33-11 overall and 31-7 in conference. 

Pitchers Tori Haug and Kenzi Garner were solid in the circle. Haug prevented the big inning, giving up more than a run in a single frame just once, and finished with six innings pitched, allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned) while matching a season-high with seven strikeouts. 

Garner, on the other hand, allowed four of her runs (three earned) in the fourth inning, breaking a scoreless tie, before the Mavericks added on two in the sixth. Garner struck out two and walked three but held CMU to just six hits over her six innings while battling rain and snow showers throughout much of her outing.

Colorado Mesa received quality starts from both of its arms. Redshirt freshman Jessalyn Gallegos improved her record to 16-2 on the season with her 15th complete game effort and recorded double-digit strikeouts for the third time. Reigning RMAC Pitcher of the Year Preslee Christensen pitched game two and did not allow a baserunner through 4.2 innings on her way to a win. 

Game one on the day started out as a back-and-forth contest. Mesa scored once in the bottom of the first, but the Eagles answered back against Gallegos, with Ashland Baca leading off the second with a single before Brogan Allen homered to left-center field, the Cheyenne, Wyoming native's fifth round-tripper of the season, to give CSC a 2-1 advantage. 

Unfortunately, that would be all for the Eagles against Gallegos, who would finish the day with 12 strikeouts. After the second, Gallegos faced only one batter over the minimum for the rest of the game, scattering two hits and a walk over the final five frames but erasing two of those on double plays. 

In game two, Garner and Christensen both came to play, fighting lower temperatures and precipitation by getting ahead in counts and having each respective lineup on the defensive throughout the game. The two starters combined to allow two baserunners over the first three innings, both by Garner in the first inning. 

The Mavericks broke through in the fourth, scoring a run on two singles and a fielder's choice. J'lyssa Martinez then made a phenomenal catch near the left-field foul pole, outstretching her arm to snag a fly ball while crashing into the fence, but CMU alertly tagged up to turn the play into a sacrifice fly and make it 2-0. 

A costly Chadron State error on a fly ball drove in another run and an RBI single made it 4-0 before Garner was able to end the frame with a strikeout and fly ball. 

Meanwhile, Christensen was working on a perfect game through 4.2 innings. The Eagles seized the momentum when Garner homered to put CSC on the board. Two consecutive singles by Sophia Brennan and Sydney Loyet plus a walk brought the go-ahead run to the plate all of a sudden, but Jazlyn Arvizo flew out to end the inning and CSC only tallied one more baserunner the rest of the way. 

The Eagles and Mavericks will continue their series tomorrow (Saturday), with game times set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.